Be uncomfortable. Open doors. Empathize with strangers. Try new things out. Seek serendipity. Take chances with new friends. And pay it forward to people you don't know.
Victor Hwang
Austin Community College Commencement 2014, 2014
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At the climax of his speech, Victor Hwang offered seven pithy aphorisms that he hoped could serve as 'new sayings for a new era.' These seven principles were his answer to the question of how to 'renew the frontier every day' — the central mission he laid out for graduates. What made the list powerful was Hwang's acknowledgment that every one of these actions goes against our natural instincts. Our biology pushes us toward comfort, familiarity, and caution. But Hwang argued these instincts must be fought because the frontier spirit — the willingness to take chances on strangers — is what created Austin's unique culture, built America's strength, and will determine individual success in the new economy. The list tied together all three of his love letters into a unified call to action.